Saab Seaeye has hosted the opening ceremony for a new facility which will expand production capacity by 50 per cent and provide a training hub for its global workforce.

Located in Fareham, Hampshire, the new facility will offer technical training courses to enable its staff to man its entire range of workclass and portable vehicles.

Speaking at the opening, managing director Dave Grant said that the consolidated operations centre would position Saab Seaeye to serve the growing underwater vehicle market.

"Custom-built facilities have been integrated into the new building, including production cells and dedicated test areas," added Offshore Shipping Online.

The facility was opened by Mark Hoban, shadow financial secretary to the Treasury.

Saab Seaeye was first formed in 1986 as a dedicated provider of remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) to the offshore oil and gas industry.

The group claims that it was the first to develop the technology necessary to exploit offshore reserves through the use of ROVs.

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